(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 4, 2011: A British soldier who went missing from his base in southern Afghanistan has been found dead with gunshot wounds, the Ministry of Defence said.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who is in Afghanistan, was said to be "deeply saddened" after the body of the serviceman, from The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, was found after a massive manhunt.

He had been reported missing from a military checkpoint in the early hours of Monday morning, and Taliban groups have claimed responsibility for killing him.

Nato spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Tim Purbrick, said: "He had suffered gunshot wounds. His exact cause of death is still to be established and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death are currently under investigation.

"It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends."

Downing Street sources said the Prime Minister was "deeply saddened" by news that the soldier had become the British armed forces' 375th fatality during the decade-long campaign.

The disappearance forced Mr Cameron to abandon part of an unannounced visit to the country so resources could be deployed to the search.

Before the death was confirmed, the premier admitted the incident was "disturbing".

But he said the "big picture" in Afghanistan showed cause for optimism, and the country was moving into a "new phase". He also reiterated that there would be no movement in the 2015 deadline for the UK's combat role to end.

"What happened was obviously a very disturbing incident," the premier said.

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada / KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - July 4, 2011: A massive air and ground search was under way this afternoon in Afghanistan to find a British soldier feared captured by Taliban fighters.

All other operations were cancelled as special forces, troops, helicopters, drones and spy planes were deployed across Helmand.

The Taliban today claimed to have kidnapped and executed the man after taking him prisoner following a fierce fire fight but the claim could not be verified.

He is believed to have left the Salaang checkpoint in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand in the early hours of today after completing sentry duty. An Afghan soldier is said to have been the last person to see him.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that a British serviceman based in Helmand had gone missing.

"An extensive operation to locate him is under way," it said in a statement. "The individual was based in central Helmand and was reported missing in the early hours.

"His next of kin have been informed and they will be updated as the operation continues." The circumstances in which the soldier disappeared from his base were described as"highly unusual".

The Taliban claimed to have seized him but then killed him after coming under fire.

Military sources disputed there had been a fire fight in the area and there was no independent verification of the Taliban's claims which in the past have been exaggerated for propaganda purposes. In London, senior officials were in an emergency meeting and ministers were being kept updated.

A spokesman for the Taliban told the news agency Reuters that it had captured the soldier and executed him in the Babaji area of southern Helmand. Qari Mohammad Yousuf said: "The soldier was captured yesterday evening during a fire fight.

When the fighting got more intense we couldn't keep him so we had to kill him." Reuters could not verify the Taliban claim.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox made a statement in the Commons this afternoon. He said: "I can confirm to the House that a British serviceman is missing in Afghanistan and an extensive operation to locate him is underway.

"The individual was based in central Helmand and was reported missing in the early hours of this morning.

"His next-of-kin have been informed and they will be updated as the operation continues so no other family needs to be concerned.

"I recognise there will be many questions but speculation on an issue of this nature is unhelpful.

"I urge restraint from colleagues and the media and assure the House that the UK and ISAF are taking all necessary and appropriate action."

In June 2009 insurgents captured American soldier Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl in south-eastern Afghanistan and have released videos showing him in captivity dressed in both Afghan clothing and in military uniform.

Last summer, two sailors from the US navy went missing in Logar province, south of Kabul. A huge manhunt was launched by Nato forces but the bodies of both men were found days later.

The reported capture of the soldier comes at a sensitive time when David Cameron is poised to announce more details of his plan to withdraw the 9,500 UK troops in Afghanistan from combat duties by the end of the 2014.

The Prime Minister is said to have bowed to military advice that major troop withdrawals must be delayed until the last moment in case the Taliban are encouraged to dig in.

The British military death toll in Afghanistan now stands at 374 since the start of the conflict in 2001

Analysis: The ancient temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu - Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple was built during the medieval period. Even though there were different rulers that ruled Southern India under Vijaynagar kingdom, Mughal dynasty and Tipu Sultan the treasure and it's secrecy was intact. If the British had an inkling of the treasure, today the same would have been in the British Museum or in the Bank of England's vaults or with the British Royalty as the Koh-i-noor diamond taken away and seized by the East India Company and became part of the British Crown Jewels when Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India in 1877. Duleep Singh was the youngest son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his fifth wife Maharani Jind Kaur. Duleep, aged 13, travelled to the United Kingdom to present the jewel. The presentation of the Koh-i-Noor to Queen Victoria was the latest in the long history of transfers of the stone as a spoil of war: By DTN News (K. V. Seth)

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 4, 2011: It's like a scene from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Even before the unlocking of the last of six secret vaults at Kerala's largest temple, the centuries-old treasure in gold, silver and precious stones is already estimated to be worth around $22 billion has been found in the secret cellars of the famous Kerala Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu - Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum.

The 7 member paper appointed by the Supreme Court of India, has been preparing the list of valuable found in the cellars of Sri Padmanabhaswami Temple. The temple has 6 Secret Cellars (Nilavara – a place to keep assets safe) from Cellar A to Cellar F. Opening of each of these chambers is revealing a virtual treasure trove with precious diamonds, golden ornaments, emeralds, jewelleries, rare antique silver and brass platters and golden idols. An estimation of above $22 billion treasure was valued at the completion of the 6th day of valuing the assets of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.

Golden idol of Mahavishnu worth over $100 million

The main treasure found on the 6th day was a one foot (12 angulams) height golden idol of Lord Mahavishnu and a 30 kg golden ‘anki’. This golden idol of Lord Vishnu is believed to be the replica of the ‘utsava vigraham' used in the temple. The golden idol of Padmanabhaswamy studded with more than 1000 previous stones is valued to around Rs. 500 Crore. Another golden idol of Lord Sree Krishna was also found which weighs around 5 kg.

Golden Coins, Ornaments, and Human figurine

Several golden coins were also unearthed yesterday which are believed to be issued during the reign of Krishnadeva Rayar in the 16th century AD. Numerous golden ornaments which were used to adorn the main deity were also found in the Vault marked A. Ornaments studded with emeralds were also found on Saturday. Numerous golden human figurine weighing 1 kg, golden bangles, golden rope, are other interesting treasure found in the Vishnu Temple.

Golden Coconut Shells

Another interesting finding was two coconut shells made of pure gold. One of this golden coconut shell was students with rare antique stones including emeralds and rubies.

"Though we knew that offerings made to the temple by devotees for the last 500 years were lying in these secret cellars, the scale of the treasure has definitely surprised us," temple official Hari Kumar told the media. "All of Kerala is celebrating this extraordinary find." Its discovery has made the Hindu temple of Padmanabha Swamy in the state capital Thiruvanthapuram the richest in India.

During the past week, a team of experts appointed by India's supreme court has opened five vaults dedicated to the deity Lord Vishnu to uncover an enormous hoard of gold idols, jewellery studded with diamonds, emeralds and other precious stones, antique silver, and even two golden coconut shells studded with rubies and emeralds.

The shrine dates back to the 10th century, but the present massive granite structure was built only in the 18th century after King Marthanda Varma expanded and consolidated the Travancore kingdom. It has historically been a royal temple, but offerings to the Lord Vishnu, in the form of gold and jewellery, have come not just from Travancore kings and other Kerala royalty but millions of ordinary devotees.

The vaults containing the offerings have remained locked at least since the 1930s, when the last inventory was reportedly carried out by Travancore's then rulers. India's supreme court ordered a fresh inventory of the treasure after a face-off between the current head of the former Travancore royal family and a lawyer who challenged them about the management of the temple wealth, claiming there was inadequate security.

"There are six vaults, from A to F, and only Vault B has still to be opened," says Kumar. "This vault has special locks, and we don't want to break them. So we're getting experts to examine them, and we should be able to open them on Friday."

The entire operation is going on under heavy police security, but nothing is being filmed or photographed. "Taking photos within the sacred space of the temple is strictly prohibited," says Kumar.

Kerala's chief minister Oommen Chandy has rejected the demand that the treasure should be used for public benefit. "It belongs to the Padmanabha Swamy temple and will be preserved there," he said.

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 4, 2011: Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States.

During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

Adams's prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

Historians have long disputed whether Congress actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, even though Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin all later wrote that they had signed it on that day. Most historians have concluded that the Declaration was signed nearly a month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed.

In a remarkable coincidence, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as Presidents of the United States, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. Although not a signer of the Declaration of Independence, James Monroe, the Fifth President of the United States, died on July 4, 1831. Calvin Coolidge, the Thirtieth President, was born on July 4, 1872, and thus was the only President to be born on Independence Day.